Margaret Julia “Marlo” Thomas is an
American actress, producer, and social
activist known for her starring role on
the TV series That Girl. She also serves
as National Outreach Director for St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Marlo
is the recipient of four Emmy Awards, a
Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award, and
the George Foster Peabody Award.

In 1996, she was awarded the Women in
Film Lucy Award in recognition of her
excellence and innovation in her
creative works that have enhanced the
perception of women through the medium
of television. This holiday season marks
the seventh year of the Thanks and
Giving campaign when shoppers,
celebrities and national corporate
partners unite to help St. Jude fight
childhood cancer.

Editor-In-Chief Gary
Barg sits down with Marlo to talk about
family, supporting children and giving
back.

Gary Barg: Tell
me a bit about the St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital and the
Thanks and Giving campaign.

Marlo Thomas:
One of the reasons that St. Jude is
so distinctive is that it is a
research and treatment center under
one roof. When my father was first
planning on building a hospital for
children with cancer and other
deadly diseases, one of the
scientists said, “If you really want
to help sick kids, Danny, don’t just
try to make kids better; try to find
out what makes them sick.” That
became the mission of the hospital,
devoted to the study of disease in
children.

We have an international
intellectual community and they are
the leading doctors and scientists
in the world for children with
catastrophic diseases. And my father
made an important promise to make
St. Jude the only pediatric cancer
research center where families never
pay for the care they receive. And
no child is ever turned away because
of the family’s inability to pay.
The Thanks and Giving campaign has
helped very much to spread awareness
of the unique work of St. Jude. It
is the real deal.

Gary Barg: How
do I tell caregivers to get involved
in the Thanks and Giving campaign?

Marlo Thomas:
St. Jude is about families. We
decided that the day after
Thanksgiving would be a good day to
start the campaign because the
holiday feast is over and families
are together watching football
games, eating leftovers, and
beginning to shop. We thought, why
not begin by joiningthem at the
mall? We have made it very easy for
people to give. While they are out
shopping anyway for their families
and friends and spending money, we
ask them to remember the kids of St.
Jude, many of whom will not be home
for the holidays, and leave
something for the children —a
dollar, five dollars.